Storing/Protecting CGC Graded Books

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I suspect the best way to store cgc'd books is sideways with the spine edge down. Horizontally is probably ok too. The edge of the inner wells and gravity aren't always kind to books with overhang or even books without any overhang.

 

I've heard people say this, but what is the logic on storing them spine down? I bag and board my other books for storage, and they are not stores spine down. Why would CGC books need to be?

The CGC inner wells have hard edges that can and have damaged books with overhang on the top or bottom covers. It's probably more of a problem on the bottom cover but I've seen it happen with the top overhang too. When books are stored upright, the weight of the book can push the overhang against the hard edge of the inner well, resulting in a lovely bend or crease.

 

If a book is stored spine down, the top or bottom overhang isn't pushed against the well and the book is less likely to get damaged by the inner well.

 

For books without overhang, it's less of a problem. But I think damage can still occur.

 

 

I store all of my slabs upright in plastic or acid-free cardboard boxes.

 

My suspicion is that the edge damage from the old non-tapered inner wells, happens during shipping and more than likely in the initial shipping from CGC.

 

I've not seen much evidence of this happening simply from upright storage as, without being shaken, how would there be enough momentum to actually cause a crease ?

 

"Bend" might be a more apt description. And I wish you were right. Unfortunately, I own at least one example where I know the bend did not occur during shipping. I had the book slabbed myself. When it arrived from CGC, it was fine. It's a high ticket book, so I definitely looked at it carefully when I unpacked the box. Over time, a bend appeared on the back cover in the bottom overhang. The book has been sitting in the same box ever since it arrived from Sarasota. It's now upside down until I can reconfigure my shelves to store my slabs spine down.

 

 

Sorry to hear that. Do you have a scan of the damage ?

 

How are you supposed to even look at it, as I'd imagine the momentum of tipping it upright now is likely to re-inforce the damage ?

 

Did CGC not put a wedge in the inner well to hold it in place, I thought they did that for most high end books ?

 

I don't have easy access to the book right now, but it looks something like this. Less severe, but the same general idea. The book below sold for $18,400, by the way.

 

 

Ouch! This thread has been very informative. Storing slabs vertically in boxes is the most natural and convenient thing to do. But it seems evident that it's not best practice.